At least two killed, 214 injured in magnitude 6.4 Taiwan earthquake

In this photo released by Hualien County Fire Bureau, rescuers are seen entering a building that collapsed onto its side from an early morning earthquake in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Wednesday. (AP photo)

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near the Taiwanese coastal city of Hualien late on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, killing at least two, injuring hundreds and trapping people inside several collapsed buildings.

Fire officials said up to 16 people were trapped in a residential building in Hualien, an area popular with tourists on Taiwan’s rugged east coast. The quake struck about 22 km (14 miles) northeast of Hualien shortly before midnight (1600 GMT), with its epicentre very shallow at just 1 km, the USGS said.